Improvement in insect-traps



JAPHTHAH W. STELL, OF GONZALES, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR' TO HIMSELF AND WILLIAM B. OAVITT, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN l NSE CT TRAPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. Rftdfldld, dated December 31, 1872.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAPHTHAH W. STELL, of Gonzales, in the county of Gonzales and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ant-Trap, of which the following is a specification:

Figure 1 is a top view of my improved anttrap. Fig. 2 is a detail cross-section of the same taken through the line 00 m, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention has for its object to furnish an improved ant-trap which shall be so constructed that the ants can get into it readily, but cannot get out, so that they may be easily destroyed'; and it consists in the ant-trapformed of the ring plate or disk, the two inclined plates roughened upon their outer sides and smpoth upon their inner sides, and the two inclined plates smooth upon both sides, said parts being constructed and arranged in connection with each other, as hereinafter more fully described.

A is ring disk or plate, upon the outer edge of which is formed an inclined or conical plate or flange, B. The upper edge of the conical plate 13 is turned over inward to form a shorter incline, 0. Upon the inner edge of the ringdisk A is formed, or to it is attached, a flaring or outwardly-inclined plate, D, the upper edge of which is turned over outward to form a short incline, E. The outer surface of the outer inclined plate B and the inner surface of the inner inclined or flaring plate D are sanded or otherwise roughened so that the ants'can pass up them freely. The other surfaces of the plates 13 D and the surfaces of the inclined plates or flanges O E are made smooth so that the ants cannot crawl up them. In the outer inclined plate B is formed a hole or opening, which is closed with a slide, F, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In using the trap it is placed over an anthole or in a place where ants frequent. The ants readily pass up the inclined plates B D, and as soon as they come upon the smooth inclines G E they slide down into the cavity or space between the inclined plates B D, whence they cannot escape, being unable to ascend the smooth inclined inner surfaces of the plates B D.

The ants may be destroyed by pouring water into the cavity of the trap, or in any other convenient manner, and may be removed by opening the slide F. If water is used to kill the ants it should be boiling when .used.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- An improved ant-trap, formed of the ring plate or disk A, the inclined plates B D roughened upon their outer sides and smooth upon their inner sides, and the inclined plates G E smooth upon both sides, said parts being constructed and arranged in connection with each other, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

JAPHTHAH W. STELL.

Witnesses:

L L. LEVY, A. S. OHEVALIER. 

